Electric dehorner



June 30, 1942. J. KITcHENER ELECTRIC DEHORNER Filed June is, 1941 INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS Patented .Fune 3Q, 1942 UNlTED STATES E ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an electric dehorner and has for an object to provide a simplified device of this character which will expedite the dehorning of cattle, sheep and goats without danger of infection or blinding.

Ordinarily a caustic stick is used to dehorn animals from two to four weeks old. The caustic stick is rubbed on the horns from ten to fifteen minutes, and ordinarily the wounds bleed for about twenty-four hours and always leave a sore which requires about four weeks to heal. If great care is not taken, a drop of the caustic stick, which of course has been previously dipped in water, may enter the animals eyes and blind the animal.

With the above disadvantage in mind, the present invention provides a dehorner having a cylindrical tip adapted to be heated and provided with a concave recess in the end face to receive the horn of the animal and dehorn the animal in about one and one-half minutes, while simultaneously cauterizing the Wound so that there is no danger of infection and eliminating the danger of blinding the animal.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong, simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture, and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing of this specification:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dehorner constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dehorner shown in Figure 1, taken on the line 2-2.

The dehorner comprises a tubular metal shank which is equipped at one end with a tubular handle ll formed of insulating material. At the end opposite the handle the shank is equipped with a metal cylindrical tip l2,which is screwthreadedly engaged with the shank at one end,

forming a part as shown at I3 and has a thick disk closure at the other end. The outer face of the closure is provided with a concave recess l4 adapted to be fitted over the horn of an animal of the age of from two to four weeks preferably.

An electric cord I5 is disposed axially in the shank and in the handle. The two conductor wires l6 of the cord are connected to the opposite ends of a resistance coil H which is helically wound on a core l8, which is snugly fitted in an axial recess I9 formed in the tip [2, the core being formed of insulating material, while the resistance coil is in contact with the inner surface of the recess 19 of the metal tip. The cord [5 may be connected to any suitable source of electric current.

In use, current is applied to the resistance coil H to heat the metal tip l2 to substantially a cherry red color and the tip is applied to the horn, with the horn received within the recess M for a time period sufficient to dehorn the animal. This time period is usually about one ane one-half minutes, and in practice no blood is let and the heat of the tip cauterizes the wound.

In some instances, upon failure of electric current the tip l2 may be heated by a blow torch.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

A dehorner for cattle, sheep and goats of the age of from two to four Weeks, comprising a tubular metal shank, a tubular handle formed of insulating material on one end of the shank, a cylindrical metal tip screw threadedly engaged with the shank at one end and having a thick disk closure at the other end, the outer face of the closure being provided with a concave recess adapted to be fitted over the horn of the animal, an electric cord disposed axially in the shank and in the handle, a core of insulating material in the tip having a spiral groove on the outer surface, a helical resistance coil wound upon the core in said groove and connected to said electric cord of the tip for heating the tip to substantially a cherry red color for removing the animals horn in minimum time and Without letting of blood.

JACOB KITCHENER. 

